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Biomedical subjects

K L Zhang

Publications and source records attributed to K L Zhang.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

A study on female sex workers in southern China (Shenzhen): HIV-related knowledge, condom use and STD history.

The present study aims to investigate the perspective relations between HIV/AIDS and condom-related knowledge, condom use, history of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and predictive factors of condom use by female sex workers (FSW) who were sent to the Women Re-education Center (WRC) in Shenzhen, People's Republic of China. Seven hundred and one FSW were interviewed. Whereas respondents had attained certain accurate knowledge about the HIV transmission routes, misconceptions were still commonly reported. Level of condom related knowledge was not high. The prevalence of using condoms with clients was relatively low-15%- 22% reported not using condoms consistently. One of the major obstacles was 'Refusal by clients'. Significant predictive factors associated with consistency of condom use with clients were age, educational background, average number of client intakes per day, capacity in determining the use of condoms and past STD history. The respondents may have developed a false sense of safety by subjectively assessing whether their clients had a STD but they were unaware that HIV carriers may show no obvious symptoms at all. The data has confirmed the worries regarding the potential 'bridging effect' of HIV transmission as resulted by cross-border commercial sex-networking activities.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Frequency-specific responses of human brain to peripheral transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study].

The purpose of the present investigation was to determine the responses of human brain to transcutaneous electric nerve stimulation (TENS) at different frequencies by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) examinations covering the whole brain of eleven healthy volunteers. Each subject received TENS at acupoints ST36 and SP6 of the left leg at the frequencies of 2 and 100 Hz. Frequency-specific responses were found in motor-related areas, thalamus, limbic system and associated cortex to stimulation of the two frequencies, while the primary somatosensory areas were activated by both. Therefore, it appears that 2 and 100 Hz TENS act through different neuro-pathways in the central nervous system.

Acupuncture↗
PubMed2000

Effects of infant birthweight and maternal body mass index in pregnancy on components of the insulin resistance syndrome in China.

BACKGROUND: Reduced birthweight is associated with increased risk for the insulin resistance syndrome. Part of this risk is hypothesized to originate from undernutrition in utero. The prevalence of the insulin resistance syndrome increases in countries that undergo the transition from chronic malnutrition to adequate nutrition, when postnatal nutrition improves more rapidly than prenatal nutrition. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the components of the insulin resistance syndrome are associated with reduced fetal growth and maternal undernutrition. DESIGN: A nonconcurrent, prospective study of men and women whose mothers' heights and weights were recorded during pregnancy. SETTING: Beijing, China. PARTICIPANTS: 627 men and women (mean age, 45 years) whose mothers' obstetric records were preserved. MEASUREMENTS: Adult offspring's blood pressure, plasma glucose levels, insulin levels, and lipid concentrations during an oral glucose tolerance test. The main explanatory measurements were mothers' body mass index during pregnancy and offspring's birthweight and adult size. RESULTS: After adjustment for sex and current body mass index, low birthweight was associated with elevated plasma glucose levels, insulin levels, triglyceride concentrations, and blood pressure. For every 1-kg increase in birthweight, systolic blood pressure decreased by 2.9 mm Hg (95% CI, 0.3 to 5.4 mm Hg) and the 2-hour plasma glucose level decreased by 5.1% (CI, 0.7% to 9.3%). Low maternal body mass index in early and late pregnancy was associated with elevated levels of plasma glucose, insulin, and triglycerides in adult offspring but was not associated with elevated blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Risk for the insulin resistance syndrome may be partially established through low maternal body mass before pregnancy and consequent fetal undernutrition. This risk is independent of that associated with adult obesity. In developing countries such as China, improved nutrition in girls and young women may offer long-term benefits to offspring.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Phylogenetic analysis of the S7 gene does not segregate Chinese strains of bluetongue virus into a single topotype.

Bluetongue virus (BTV) infection of ruminants is endemic throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world. The S7 gene segments of prototype Chinese strains of BTV serotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, 12, 15, and 16 were sequenced and compared to the same genes of prototype strains of BTV from the US, Australia, and South Africa. The S7 genes and predicted VP7 proteins of the Chinese viruses were relatively conserved, with the notable exception of serotype 15. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis of the S7 genes did not predict geographic origin of the various strains of BTV.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Long-term efficacy of plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine: a 15-year follow-up study among Chinese children.

To determine necessity and timing of booster of hepatitis B vaccine, we need to observe the duration of its protection. We report the results of a 15-year follow-up of a cohort of 649 children who participated a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial on a plasma-derived hepatitis B vaccine in 1982. During the 15 years after vaccination, more vaccinated children had anti-HBs of 10 S/N ratios or over, compared with the controls, at all nine observations. At 15 years 50.0% (26/52) of the participants studied in the vaccinated group and 33.3% of the tested controls (18/54) retained anti-HBs levels of S/N ratios> or =10 (P < 0.09). However, since 5 years after vaccination, median S/N ratios of anti-HBs among the vaccinated children with detectable anti-HBs were lower than those of the controls except that detected at 15 years. 16.7% (9/54) of the tested children in the control group were HBsAg positive at 15 years after vaccination, in comparison with 1.9% (1/52) of the tested children in the vaccinated (P < 0.02). 28 chronic HBsAg carriers were identified in the control cohort over the 15 years, whereas only 1 case was noted in the vaccinated group (8.2% vs. 0.3%, P < 0.00001), corresponding to an efficacy of 96%.

Double-Blind Method↗
PubMed1989

[Analysis and comparison of the chemical composition of two preparations of Chinemys reevesii Gray].

Amino-acids, nitrogen content, soaking extracts, ash contents, trace elements have been systematically determined for the traditional preparation and food-bacteria preparation of Chinemys reevesii. The results have shown that all the analytical targets in food-bacteria preparation are higher than or close to those in traditional preparation. So the food-bacteria preparation is better in quality.

Amino Acids↗